Skeleton frame and cover supported therefrom

ABSTRACT

A flexible cover panel assembly generally rectangular in plan shape and including a center longitudinal fold zone along which the panel may be folded over an elongated horizontal ridge support member. The cover includes opposite end tension anchor points at least closely adjacent the opposite ends of the fold zone and at least two longitudinally spaced side tension anchor points spaced along the opposite side longitudinal marginal portions of the cover and appreciably inwardly from the side edges and end edges thereof, with a first reinforcing center tension member secured to the cover and extending between the end tension anchor points, a second transverse reinforcing tension member secured to the cover and extending between each pair of corresponding side anchor points and at least one pair of third crossed diagonal reinforcing tension members on each side of said fold zone secured to the cover and extending between the intersections of the two crossed tension members with the center tension member and the corresponding side anchor points. Further, opposite end support standards and a tension member extending and tensioned between the upper ends of the standards is provided for support of the panel therefrom with the latter folded over the support tension member and the end tension anchor points anchored relative to the support standards and the side tension anchor points anchored to the ground or other suitable anchor areas.

United States Patent n91 Clelland [451 Mine 26, 1973 SKELETON FRAME AND COVER SUPPORTED THEREFROM [75] Inventor: John J. Clelland, Rochester, NY.

[73] Assignee: Carrie J. Degus, Rochester, NY. a

part interest 22 Filed: Aug. 27, 1971 21 Appl. 110.; 175,611

Primary Examin erJ. Karl Bell Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson [5 7] ABSTRACT A flexible cover panel assembly generally rectangular in plan shape and including a center longitudinal fold zone along which the panel may be folded over an elongated horizontal ridge support member. The cover ineludes opposite end tension anchor points at leastv closely adjacent the opposite ends of the fold zone and at least two longitudinally spaced side tension anchor points spaced along the opposite side longitudinal marginal portions of the cover and appreciably inwardly from the side edges and end edges thereof, with a first reinforcing center tension member secured to the cover and extending between the end tension anchor points, a second transverse reinforcing tension member secured to the cover and extending between each pair of corresponding side anchor points and at least one pair of third crossed diagonal reinforcing tension members on each side of said fold zone secured to the cover and extending between the intersections of the two crossed tension members with the center tension member and the corresponding side anchor points. Further, opposite end support standards and a tension member extending and tensioned between the upper ends of the standards is provided for support of the panel therefrom with the latter folded over the support tension member and the end tension anchor points anchored relative to the support standards and the side tension anchor points anchored to the ground or other suitable anchor areas.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENIEBmzs ms 3. 741. 224

sum 1 or 2 Fig.2

IN V ENTOR.

PAIENIEBmas ma 3. T41. 224

sum 2 or 2 Fig. 9 50 John J. C/el/and SKELETON FRAME AND CO VER SUPPORTE THEREFROM The flexible panel of the instant invention has been designed to provide a means'whereby various forms of tents may be readily erected with little effort and with the completed tent or shelter formed from a single rectangular panel and either open or closed at its opposite ends.

The rectangular cover panel may be utilized to form either a pup tent including straight downwardly divergent opposite side walls or a wall tent of similar configuration but whose lower side wall portions drop vertically to the ground. The cover is constructed of any flexible material but preferably of an inexpensive material such as plastic reinforced with suitable reinforcing threads. A particular tear-resistant plastic material which has been found to be useful in the construction of a rectangular panel is Aqua-Tuf which is reinforced with nylon threads crossed relative to each other throughout the panel.

The main object of this invention is to provide a panel construction which may be readily utilized to form pup and wall tents which may be readily erected with little effort.

Another important object of this invention is to provide pup or wall tent-forming rectangular panels with the panels constructed in a manner whereby the pup and wall tents formed thereby may be either openended or closed-ended with entrance flaps at its opposite ends formed from integral portions of the basic rectangular panel.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel tent construction utilizing a ridge support and opthe section line 7--7 of FIG. 4;

posite end support standards comprising the sole means I for supporting the rectangular panel of which the tent is constructed.

Another very important objectof this invention is to provide a generally rectangular panel which may be readily transformed into a pup or wall tent and including at least somewhat elastic reinforcing throughout as well as strategically placed tie down anchor points to enable the rectangular panel to be readily erected to form a tent with little effort.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a tent cover-defining rectangular panel and a supporting structure therefor which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to handle so as tion; 7

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pup tent with its end flap closed; I v FIG.'3 is a plan view of the rectangular panel from which the pup tent illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be formed;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of an inside portion of the pup tent illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and illustrating the manner in which opposite side marginal portions of the pup tent may be anchored to the ground; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a wall tent constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a pup tent constructed in accordance with the present invention. The pup tent 10 includes a rectangular flexible panel 12 draped over a horizontal ridge support defining tension member 14 (see FIG. 7) supported at its opposite ends from the upper ends 'of a pair of uprights 16, the central portions of the opposite ends of the panel 12 also being anchored to the upper ends of the uprights 16 v .The panel 12 comprises a plastic panel including crossed reinforcing members 18 embedded in and bonded to the panel 12. The reinforcing members 18 comprise tension members and are somewhat stretchable as isthe plastic panel 12. The reinforcing members may be constructed of nylon and a panel such as panel 12 including the reinforcing members 18 is presently marketed under the name of Aqua-Tuf. Of course, although the plastic panel without the reinforcing members 18 would be far more easily stretched if the panel 12 did not include the reinforcing members 18, the reinforcing members themselves are stretchable to some degree and therefore the entire panel member 12 may be placed under tension without any portion of the panel 12 tearing before the elastic limit of the reinforcing members '18 is exceeded.

With attention invited more specifically to FIG. 3 of the drawings which comprises a plan view of the panel 12, it may be seen that the opposite end edges of the panel 12 are provided with slide fastener constructions 18. In addition, the opposite side longitudinal edge portions of the panel 12 are provided with spaced grommets 20 and the central portions of the opposite ends of thepanel 12 areprovided with further grommets 22. Also, the opposite side marginal edge portions of the panel 12 are provided with grommets 24 spaced inwardly from the side marginal edges of the panel 12 and which are transversely aligned with corresponding opposite marginal edge portion grommets 20.

Corresponding opposite side grommets 24 are interconnected by means of flexible nylon tension members 26 extending therebetween and the opposite end grommets 22 are interconnected by means of the tension member 14 extending therebetween. Further, opposite side crossed similar tension members 28 extend betweenlthe intersection of the end tension members 26 and the center longitudinal tension member 14 and the remote end grommets 24.

The tension members 26 and 28 as well as further tension members 30 extending between each set of grommets 24 and tension members 32 extending between each of the end grommets 24 and the corresponding center end grommet 22 are secured to the inside surface of the panel member 12 by means of plastic strips 34 which are bonded to the panel 12.

The adjacent terminal ends of the various tension members 26, 28, 30, 32 and 14 are secured together as are the terminal ends of the tension members 28 and the adjacent portions of the tension members 26 and those mid-portions of the tension members 14 and 26 which cross each other.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 1, 2,4, and .8 of the drawings, it may be seen that the tension member 14 includes a loop formed in each of its opposite ends slipped over diametrically reduced upper end portions 16' of the uprights 16 (see FIG. 7). The upper end portions 16' also have the looped upper ends of a pair of endwise outwardly downwardly inclined tension members 6.secured thereover and the lower ends of the tension members 36 are staked to the ground 38 as at 40. Of course, when the tension members 36 are properly tensioned, the uprights 16 are secured in their upright positions against tilting toward and away from each other and the panel 12 (by being staked to the ground as hereinafter more fully set forth) I secures the uprights 16 against lateral swinging at their upper ends.-

After the tension member 14 with the panel 12 disposed thereover and the uprights 16 have been secured in their positions illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 7 and 9 of the drawings, adjustable length tension members 42 are utilized to secure the opposite side marginal edge portions of the cover panel 12 to the ground by means of stakes 44 about which the tension members 42 are looped, the stakes 44 also passing through the grommets 20. The upper ends of the tension members 42 are anchored to the intersecting terminal ends of the tension members 26 and 30 and accordingly, the panel 12 is staked to the ground along its opposite side marginal edge portions in a manner maintaining the panel 12 in a tensioned condition such as that illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Additional stakes 44 are utilized th-rough'the two end grommets along each side marginal edgeportion of the panel 12 to stake the opposite end portions of the panel 12 to the ground in order to 1 form the open-ended tent illustrated in FIG. 1. However, when itis desired to close either one or both ends of the tent 10, the-end-most stakes secured through the end-most grommets 20 have the end-most grommets released from engagement therewith and the corresponding end flaps of the panel 12 are swung toward each other and secured in the closed positions by means of the slide fastener construction 18. Accordingly', the open-ended tent 10 illustrated, in FIG. I of the drawings may be readily transformed into the closed-ended tent 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawin s. I

/Vith attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 4 and 9 of the drawings, it may be'seen that the cover panel 12 may be utilized to form pup tents of various heights with the included angle formed by the opposite sides of the panel 12 varying as the height, in relation to the width, of the' pup tent varies. Also, as may be seen in FlG.--9, a wall tent generally referred to by the reference numeral 50 may be formed. In order to form the wall tent 50, the adjustable length tension members 42 are merely disposed outside the panel 12 with the portions of the opposite sides of the panels 12 extending below the grommets 24 being allowed to drop vertically to the ground 38. In such instance, the grommets 20 may also be staked to the ground, if desired. In any event, when either of the tents 10 or has its opposite ends closed, the opposite ends of the peak of each tent projects outwardly beyond the corresponding closed lower end wall of the tent.

Although it may be said that the opposite ends of the tension member l4'are anchored relative to the grommets 22, this is accomplished only by the upper end portions 16 of the uprights 16 being passed through the loops at the opposite ends of the tension member and the grommets 22. Further, it is not necessary that the adjacent terminal ends of the tension members 26,

28, 30 and 32 actually be anchored relative to the grommets 24 but only that these adjacent ends be secured' to each other for attachment to the tension members 42, although in some instances suitable means (not shown) may be utilized to actually anchor the grommets 24 to these tension member terminal ends.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in-the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

- 1. A flexible generally rectangular panel for use in forming pup tents and wall tents, the central portions of the opposite end edges of said panel and the four corners of said panel being provided with end and corner grommets, respectively, the side edges of said panel extending between said four corners each being provided with outer side grommets spaced therealong intermediate said four corner grommets and said panel including opposite side rows of inner side grommets transversely aligned with the corresponding outer side grommets, and crossed longitudinal and transverse flexible and somewhat stretchable tension members extending along one inner side face of said panel between said end and inner side grommets, respectively.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said panel is constructed of sheet plastic and includes crossed and at least somewhat stretchable reinforcing thread members extending therethrough.

3. The combination of claim 1 including diagonal, flexible and somewhat stretchable tension members extending along said inner side face of said panel between each of said end grommets and the adjacent endmost inner side grommets.

4. The combination of claim 3 including further longitudinal tension members extending along said panel between the inner side grommets of each row of inner side grommets.

5. The combination of claim, 4 including still further crossed diagonal tension members extending along said panel between the end inner side grommets and the intersections of the longitudinal and end transverse tension members.

6. A flexible generally rectangular panel for use in forming pup tents and wall tents, the central portions of the opposite end edges of said panel and the four corners of said panel being provided with end and corner grommets, respectively, the side edges of said panel extending between said four corners each being provided with outer side grommets spaced therealong intermediate said four corner grommets and said panel including opposite side rows of inner side grommets transversely aligned with the corresponding outer side grommets, at least one end edge of said panel including slide fastener means for securing corresponding portions of the transverse halves of said one end edge together.

7. A flexible generally rectangular panel for use in forming pup tents and wall tents, the central portions of the opposite end edges of said panel and the four corners of said panel being provided with end and corner grommets, respectively, the side edges of said panel extending between said four corners each being provided with outer side grommets spaced therealong intermediate said four corner grommets and said panel including opposite side rows of inner side grommets transversely aligned with the corresponding outerside grommets, a pair of end pole uprights including diametrically reduced upper end portions projectable into said end grommets, and crossed longitudinal and transverse flexible and somewhat stretchable tension members extending along one inner side face of said panel between said end and inner side grommets, respectively.

I 8. The combination of claim 7 including diagonal, flexible and somewhat stretchable tension members extending along said inner side face of said panel between each of said end grommets and the adjacent endmost inner side grommets.

9. The combination of claim 8 including diagonal, flexible and somewhat stretchable tension members extending along said inner side face of said panel between each of said end grommets and the adjacent endmost inner side grommets, further longitudinal tension members-extending along said panel between the inner side grommets of each row of inner side grommets, still further crossed diagonal tension members extending along said panel between the end inner side grommets and the intersections of the longitudinal and end transverse tension members.

10. A flexible generally rectangular panel for use in forming pup tents and wall tents, the central portions of the opposite end edges of said panel and the four corners of said panel being provided with end and corner anchor members, respectively, the side edges of said panel extending between said four corners each being provided with outer side anchor members spaced therealong intermediate said four corner anchor members and said panel including opposite side rows of inner side anchor members transversely aligned with the corresponding outer side anchor members, at least one end edge of said panel including'slide fastener means for securing corresponding portions of the transverse halves of said one end edge together. 

1. A flexible generally rectangular panel for use in forming pup tents and wall tents, the central portions of the opposite end edges of said panel and the four corners of said panel being provided with end and corner grommets, respectively, the side edges of said panel extending between said four corners each being provided with outer side grommets spaced therealong intermediate said four corner grommets and said panel including opposite side rows of inner side grommets transversely aligned with the corresponding outer side grommets, and crossed longitudinal and transverse flexible and somewhat stretchable tension members extending along one inner side face of said panel between said end and inner side grommets, respectively.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said panel is constructed of sheet plastic and includes crossed and at least somewhat stretchable reinforcing thread members extending therethrough.
 3. The combination of claim 1 including diagonal, flexible and somewhat stretchable tension members extending along said inner side face of said panel between each of said end grommets and the adjacent endmost inner side grommets.
 4. The combination of claim 3 including further longitudinal tension members extending along said panel between the inner side grommets of each row of inner side grommets.
 5. The combination of claim 4 including still further crossed diagonal tension members extending along said panel between the end inner side grommets and the intersections of the longitudinal and end transverse tension members.
 6. A flexible generally rectangular panel for use in forming pup tents and wall tents, the central portions of the opposite end edges of said panel and the four corners of said panel being provided with end and corner grommets, respectively, the side edges of said panel extending between said four corners each being provided with outer side grommets spaced therealong intermediate said four corner grommets and said panel including opposite side rows of inner side grommets transversely aligned with the corresponding outer side grommets, at least one end edge of said panel including slide fastener means for securing corresponding portions of the transverse halves of said one end edge together.
 7. A flexible generally rectangular panel for use in forming pup tents and wall tents, the central portions of the opposite end edges of said panel and the four corners of said panel being provided with end and corner grommets, respectively, the side edges of said panel extending between said four corners each being provided with outer side grommeTs spaced therealong intermediate said four corner grommets and said panel including opposite side rows of inner side grommets transversely aligned with the corresponding outer side grommets, a pair of end pole uprights including diametrically reduced upper end portions projectable into said end grommets, and crossed longitudinal and transverse flexible and somewhat stretchable tension members extending along one inner side face of said panel between said end and inner side grommets, respectively.
 8. The combination of claim 7 including diagonal, flexible and somewhat stretchable tension members extending along said inner side face of said panel between each of said end grommets and the adjacent endmost inner side grommets.
 9. The combination of claim 8 including diagonal, flexible and somewhat stretchable tension members extending along said inner side face of said panel between each of said end grommets and the adjacent endmost inner side grommets, further longitudinal tension members extending along said panel between the inner side grommets of each row of inner side grommets, still further crossed diagonal tension members extending along said panel between the end inner side grommets and the intersections of the longitudinal and end transverse tension members.
 10. A flexible generally rectangular panel for use in forming pup tents and wall tents, the central portions of the opposite end edges of said panel and the four corners of said panel being provided with end and corner anchor members, respectively, the side edges of said panel extending between said four corners each being provided with outer side anchor members spaced therealong intermediate said four corner anchor members and said panel including opposite side rows of inner side anchor members transversely aligned with the corresponding outer side anchor members, at least one end edge of said panel including slide fastener means for securing corresponding portions of the transverse halves of said one end edge together. 